2004 /11 Heidi Klum’s Body of Knowledge

Extract by Anthony Kiedis from Heidi Klum’s Body of Knowledge: 8 Rules of Model Behavior (to Help You Take Off on the Runway of Life), page 185. Published on November 30th, 2004.

MUSIC FOR EVERY OCCASION

BY ANTHONY KIEDIS, LEAD SINGER, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS

The first time I laid eyes on Anthony . . . let’s just say I couldn’t take them off of him. Since then, he’s taught me so much about music—old and new—so who better to help you come up with a soundtrack to your life?

The funny thing about listening to music for a certain occasion is that it keeps changing. A song or a record that tore my heart out and connected me to the loving force of the universe three months ago might not ever do the same again. It’s a constant and evolving search … and therein lies the beauty and the adventure of sound. It’s abstract and infinite while working like god-given holistic medicine, affecting each ear in a unique way.

1. If you should ever find yourself driving northbound on the 101, headed for a Big Sur surf trip with two of your favorite allies, just pop the Germs (GI) into your player. Invigorating tendencies will erupt from your core.

2. Blonde Redhead made a record called La Mia Vita Violenta, which sounds so magical while taking a morning shower. Not to get all sexual right off the bat, but it does lend itself to those feelings.

3. If you ever feel like too many days have passed without any dancing, just pop in James Brown Live at the Apollo. Ass-shaking blood flow is sure to follow.

4. Dolly Parton wrote and recorded a song called “I Will Always Love You” in 1974. If you want to sit in the dark, and cry about how much you used to be in love with someone, this is the prescription. After you have drained yourself of tears and heartbreak, play the 1973 recording of her song “Jolene.” Picks me up every time.

5. Music to get dressed to: Ramones. Their first record gets me in the mood for any high- or low-powered outing into the night. Reminds me not to take myself too seriously. Life is but a dream, so why not invite the Ramones?

6. Feel like getting away from everything pretentious and full of shit? Play Fela and Afrika 70. The record is called Zombie. This music from the Nigerian superhero cleans the spirit and shows us how to move.

7. On hot summer nights driving around Los Angeles with my moon roof open, I’m mighty inclined to listen to David Bowie’s Young Americans. It reminds me of my childhood in the seventies and makes me feel emotionally strong. Strong like I could write songs and deep kiss my girl.

8. Simple things seem to stand the test of time. Marc Bolan wrote some of the most enduring, simple, classic, perfect songs ever and put them on a record called The Slider. Special occasion not required.

9. My friend John and I shared a bus on our tour last year. We would listen religiously to Nick Drake’s Bryter Layter, just sitting there in the dark smiling and driving through nighttime places like New Mexico.

10. Number 10 is for the hundreds of other pieces of music I hope we can all hunt down in our quest for happiness. God Bless, and until we meet again…